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TEXAS SOUVENIR 



« « « 



A COLLECTION OF POEMS 



DEVOTED TO THE 



Scenery and Historical 
Events of Texas 



« « ts 



BY 
CHARLES FREDERICK RUMPEL 



THE LIBRARY OF 
CONORESS, 

Two Copiei Recsiyed 

JUL 11 1903 

J Cop>n*i>^ tnlfy 

tLASS "■ XXo. N« 

at -i-l I 
COPY B. 



COPYHICHTKI) 

BY 

CHAKLES KKKDERICK KUMPKL 

1903 



PRESS OF 

VOX BOEOKMAMX-.TON'KS CO., 

ArSXIN. TEXAS. 



^ 



/I 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

Prologue 5 

Blue Bonnet 7 

Texas 8 

The Soldier's Dream ') 

The State Capitol 11 

The Confederate Monument 13 

The Granite Mountains 15 

The Taking- of San Antonio 17 

The Prairie Schooner IS 

The Lost Cause 19 

The Storming- of the Alamo 21 

On Mount Bonnell 'I : 23 

State University 25 

The Massacre of Goliad 26 

Prairie Fire. 27 

The Pioneer 29 

The Battle of San Jacinto 31 

The Waterfall at Seg-uin 33 

The Old Time Darkey 35 

Legend of Mount Bonnell M> 

The Race of Montezuma 37 

The Cowboy 39 

In Pease Park 41 

The Log Cabin 43 

The Spirit of Our Race 44 

The Disaster of Galveston 45 

The City of Galveston 47 

Ben Milam's Grave 49 

Beaumont 51 

The Red Man's Peace Message 53 

The Texas Farmer 54 

My Southland 55 

Texas Forever 56 



T 



PROLOGUE. 

HESIS are the hills, unshaken and sublime! 
These are the grottoes and the cosy bovvers! 
The years rolled by, the days, the hours — 
My hair grew white — 0, Father Time! 

I plucked for you some fairy flowers! 

And what I felt — I sing in rhyme! 
But still the deepest of the showers 

Resounds in Texas hist'ry chime! 

What can be dearer to the heart? 

What ties are binding more serene? 
What lov8 is sweeter to impart? 

What love is keeping evergreen? 




p. 

3 

I 






Eh 
I 




BLUE BONNET. 

RAIRIE) flower, prairie flower! 

With thy golden glittering hue, 
Cov'ring glades and cov'ring bowers 

Red and white and white and blue, 
Roses not I will prefer thee, 
Hyacinths are naught to me: 
Nothing has the magic power — 
Of my little Blue Bonnet flower! 

Where I stroll and where I wander, 

Calls the echo loud awake; 
Thousand pictures growing fonder. 

Memories for childhood's sake! 
Memories of playful joy. 
Memories, which never die: — 
Nothing has the magic power 
Of my little Blue Bonnet flower! 

Texas maiden, Texas maiden! 

With thy gentle heart and pose. 
Nature's pride with beauty laden, 

Sweeter than the sweetest rose: 
Gladdens thou the humblest home, 
Scatter'd far in Nature's dome. 
Nothing can resist the power. 
Where thy eyelids blushing tower! 

Prairie flowers, prairie flowers, 
Texas maid with auburn hair, 
May'st thou never end thy showers — 

Rule supreme on plain and lair! 
May the days yet never come 
Where deserted is thy home! 
Nothing has the magic power 
Of my maid with Blue Bonnet flower! 




TEXAS. 

HERE is the land, the hmd <if sunny clime. 

Where boundless like the ocean rolls the plain. 

Where sweeter than the sweetest chime 
The prairie flower-^ cover hill and main? 

Know'st ye the land? Tiiere we shall stride 

And our live]on<»' days abide! 

Where is the land, the land so tender, stronj^-, 
Where roses' blossoms court the wintry chill, 

And Northland's norther's whistlino- song- 
Lends vicror to your mind and will? 

Know'st ye the land? There we shall build 

A house and home on solid fields! 

Where is the land, the land o1 rosy morn. 
Which kisses jubilant the cotton's snow. 

Where myriad hands of wavino- corn 
Are blessing our hearth and home? 

Know'st ye the land? There we shall rove, 

And there forever be and love! 



Where is the land, the land of youth and mirth. 
Where burnini^ eyes are beaming like a pearl; 
And rippling laughter deeply stirs 
The fountain of the heart so firm? 
Know'st ye the land? There we shall cling 
And our fervent anthems sing! 

Where is the land, the land of ancient lore. 
The land of valor and of noble deeds; 

The land which our heroes bore. 
Where freedom's star is ever lit? 

Know'st ye the land? There we shall vie 

In noble aim and love and die! 




THE SOLDIER'S DREAM. 

INSCRIBED TO THE DAUGHTERS OF THE CONFEDERACY. 



>. HE Battle of Gettysburg was lost, 



My soldiers in Gray, my soldiers in Gray 
Were falling back before the host 

And left the bloody field for their sway! 

There lay by the hill a wounded boy; 

He was a Texan, a Texan so brave! 
No peer he had for his mother's joy, 

And now his goal was the early grave! 

He lay there with thirst in agony, 

Of his home he thought, of his dear old home, 
Of the cosy walks by the Trinity! 

Now all his hopes were buried and gone! 

And while he wander'd in gloomy dream 
And heard the cannons, the cannons roar, 

His burning eyes were lit by a beam. 
His pallid face a smile now bore! 

Around his neck with most tender care. 

An arm so white, an arm so soft. 
From his true love, from his love so fair, 

Is holding his manly form aloft! 

And mild as Spring awakens the reed, 
His lips were touched by a magic wand! 

With a kiss so pure, with a kiss so sweet. 
As only seraphs it can spend! 

The Union soldiers were pushing on, 

My soldiers in Gray, my soldiers in Gray! 

The battle was lost, the heaven was won. 
And through the darkness is piercing a ray! 

9 




THE STATE CAPITOL. 

HERE thrones the Capitol! 
In granite soberly hewn, 
In grandeur, so sublime, 
A monument — for all the time! 

The massive structure rests with pride; 
The crowds of men pass by. 
The fait 'ring aged and prattling young- 
An endless swarming throng. 

O, may it stand, as time rolls on. 
The shrine of liberty! 
The watch of people's rights and law. 
We look at thee with awe! 

And may it grow in wisdom's lore! 
The day may never come. 
When politics will overturn 
And freedom is forlorn! 



11 




The John B. Hood Omfcdnol, Moinimnil. .iusiiii. I „,: ,(,d 
Ainil Id, IM.). 



THE JOHN B. HOOD CONFEDERATE MONUMENT. 

HE dead are living! 

I hear their clamor from the great beyond! 
And what they planned, and what they thought — 
For what they suffer'd and for what they fought — 
Their lives gave bond! 

They dead are living! 

In reverence ascends this monument! 
And all their noble, sacrificing deeds 
Are on God's acre cast, the seeds 

To bloom — as heroes' plant! 



13 




fininUe Mniiiitntn. Uiirnet Coiuity. 




Marhle Falls. 




THE GRANITE MOUNTAINS. 

HESE are the Granite Mountains proud and grand! 
Crag upon crag is piled aloft by master's hand! 
»^^ For ages they have wooed the Texas skies 
And interwoven earth's uniaounded ties! 

These are the valleys, silent, deep! 
Where waters from the mountains sleep! 
With myriads flowers yet unknown, 
But fairer than Italian zone! 

Here are the Marble Palls! From rocks so steep 
Their vivid waters foaming leap! 
They break with mellow cadence's interlude 
The solemn nature's wistful solitude. 

Here is the shrine of Texas' princely realm, 
A living yet unwritten psalm! 
And as the waters beaming downward flow. 
The poet's heart is thrilled with fervent glow! 



16 




Alain I'lazu, )rith CourthoiUie. San A)ito7iio. 



THE STORMING OF BEXAR. 




What thunders through the night 
From San Antonio's plaza? 
The Texans wage a gallant fight 
And storm the house of Garza. 

The musketry not stems their run, 
Nor cannon's deadly creaking. 

The brave, the brave, they're pushing on, 
Death or their freedom seeking! 

Old Milam — ha! he charges well 

And holds the banner dying! 
"Now forvi^ard, boys!" did Johnson yell — 

And hurrah! they were flying. 

With Karnes and crowbars they did split 

The houses, streets asunder. 
Each bullet found its mark to hit — 

Hurrah! — they leap up yonder. 

And Burleson, the general. 
Flies on his steed a-prancing! 

And valiant Neal. with shot and shell. 
He taught the greasers dancing! 

Hurrah! the New Orleans Gray, 
With Cook and Morns leading. 

They had with honor crowned this day, 
The Mexicans receding! 

And torn lay their eagle proud 

Among the dead and weary; 
And cheers went up, the Texans shout, 

And Lone Star waved in glory! 

The rain was drizzling cold and slow. 
And shrouded field of battle; 

A white flag wore the Alamo, 
And Cos for peace would settle. 

These were the laurels first of field 

Of vict'ry over Mexicans: — 
Twelve hundred prisoners did yield 

To few of gallant Texans! 

17 




THE PRAIRIE SCHOONER. 

HAT vision is there to behold 
On yonder grassy plain? 
Is there a ship with masts so bold 
To cross the narrow lane? 

And nearer, nearer does it sail, 

The schooner of prairie; 
With freight of children does it hail 

This country grand and free! 

And soon it has a harbor found 

In prairie's virgin soil — 
"Good luck!" and happy cheers go 'round 

And mingle fast with toil! 

The axe fells now the sinewed trees, 
The old man snorts and puffs; 

They busy all, like busy bees; 
A block- house stands aloft! 

What vision dwells now in iny mind? 

This country grand and free! 
No more such schooner can you find 

Upon the wide prairie! — 

The railroad whistle blowes shrill 

Athwart the waving green; 
And fences mark the plains and hills — 

No more the prairie queen! 



18 




THE LOST CAUSE. 

INSCRIBED TO THE DAUGHTERS OF THE CONFEDERACY. 

LIO unfolds with weighing hands 
The history of the Civil War, 
And many voices from the silent land 
Mingle with history's searching lore. 
In their graves side by side 
The Gray and the Blue abide! 

Clio bedecks with a laurel wreath all valiant deeds! 

A laurel wreath for Ulysses Grant! 
Where Johnstons and Lees the Confederates lead 
An evergreen laurel wreath is spent! 
In their graves side by side 
The Gray and the Blue abide! 

The noble South has lost her cause, 

But she is endowed with wisdom and strength! 
After anguish, destruction and ungainly pause 
She soars up high and blooms at length! 
In their graves side by side 
The Gray and the Blue adibe! 



THE STORMING OF THE ALAMO. 




I February 24th lo March 6th, 1836.) 

INSCRIBED TO THE DAUGHTERS OF THE REPUBLIC. 



HE cannons roar, it threatens storm, 

Napoleon of the West; 
The Mexicans in thousands swarm 

The fortress to infest. 
Two hundred Texans watch the foe 
Of the ill-fated Alamo! 

No help is nigh! 

Surrender! — or to die! 



The cordon drawes tighter still 
Around the garrison. 

The Texans rally with a will. 
And aim with nerve their gun. 

To check and to disarm the foe 

Of the ill-fated Alamo! 
In honor to stand by! 
Surrender! — or to die! 

The army of the Mexican 

Counts now six thousand men; 
While Travis sends a note in vain : 

"O, help us, if you can! 
Come, hasten to destroy the foe 
Of the ill-fated Alamo! 

We not surrender! — Fie! 
We perish — and we die!" 



The cannons shower forth their balls; 

They tearing left and right. 
Four columns march now up the walls, 

And fiercer grows the fight. 
The Mexican, this brutal foe. 
Stands now upon the Alamo! 
And by his cannon lies 
The Texan brave and dies! 

And ev'ry house is now a fort; 
The Saxon shows his wrath! 
Alas! the storming Latin horde 

Outnumbers valor's cast! 
The church breaks down before the foe 
Of the ill-fated Alamo! 

They fought till all had died, 
For Texas fame and pride. 



They fought for livelong thirteen days — 

These Travis's, Bowies, Crocketts, Smiths- 
And checked — a true Thermopylae! — 

Napoleon of the West! 
They crippled this inhuman foe 
Of the ill-fated Alamo! 

Their star shines ever high; 
They would not yield, but — die! 



21 



ON MOUNT BONNELL. 



(NEAR AUSTIN.) 




N oak with moss and mistletoe, 

Upon whose bark the ages dwell, 
Is glancino- at the river's flow 

From silv'ry crest of Mount Bonnell! 

He heard the warwhoops.of the scouts. 
The cry, the shrieks of Indian squaws. 

And many warriors went the route. 
From Mount Bonnell he gazed with awe! 

But what this tree endears to me 

Is not his ancient telling mood: 
He holds a treasure lovingly, 

Carved in the rind upon his vvood! 

I read the names of many a friend, 

Who have been free'd from life's short spell; 

Whose deeds were like the sun-rays lent 
On silv'ry crest of Mount Bonnell! 



as 




a. 




STATE UNIVERSITY. 

ROM the Sabine, the Brazos, Rio Grande — 
From all the portions of this empire land — 
The youth are here to quench their thirst for learning. 
To find the source of truth for what their heart is yearning! 

O, University! thou castle of reform and noble thought — 
Thou beacon search-light of what men for agfes wrou2"ht: 
Well nigh thou may'st for coming centuries shower 
The fount of Science's lore from thy sublimest tower! 

The owls of superstition may they hide 

Forever from thy grand domain! 
To bless all mankind — light, more light! 

But creeds decayed forever shall be slain! 



25 



THE MASSACRE OF GOLIAD. 

(MARCH 27lh. 1836.) 

INSCRIBED TO THE DAUGHTERS OF THE REPUBLIC. 

lOME, Sweet Home, rang out clear and long 
} From Goliad's darkest prison cell, 
I And joy was mingled with the song; 
It silenced soon the Mission bell. 
The da}', O, had it really come, 
When they again should see their home? 
Each of the four hundred 
Was hopeful and wonder'd! 

The Georgians marched up in fine array 

And valiant Fannin looked proud again! 
O, Palm Sunday! what sorrowful day. 

When all the fine soldiers were treach'rously slain. 
Santa Anna had the death warrant sent: 
In four columns they took the last, last stand — 

And the cannons thunder'd 

And slew the four hundred. 



26 




THE PRAIRIE FIRE. 

CARIvET red the sky— and fiery flames 
Are piercing over the savannah, 
And clouds of dust and clouds of smoke 
Envelop all the beasts of prey! 
The coyote, deer-buck and the mountain lion 
Make friends, while on their madden'd run; 
The owls, the hawks, lament in doleful shrieks! 
The darkness of the night is lit up weird; 
And pandemonium spends its luring reign! 

An avalanche of cattle! 

No prouder monarch ever led the herd. 

They come, they come with nostrils spitting fire — 

Their clattering hoofs resound in roaring tliunder! 

What in their path, is mowed down, 

And horse and rider paint the ground! 

And sheep and shepherd breathe their last! 

Onward they move — onward in deadly flight! 

A thrilling, death-embracing panorama ! 



27 




A Texas Pioneer. 




THE PIONEER. 

AND me the rifle, lad — 

The rifle of glittering steel! 
The bowie knife, in buckskin pad- - 
The Indians are on our heel! 

Well-nigh they dare me not to fight 

In the open light of da}'; 
They crawl in darkness of the night 

And watch in brush for pray! 

And such a fearful night it was, 
When wife and babe were slain; 

I hunted then in madden'd chase, 
Through rivers, storm and rain! 

They wielded bow and arrows well, 

And had their fires lit! 
Like thunderclash broke loose their yell. 

When I their chieftain hit! 

You see the scar here on my face? 

It's Indian's deadly mark! 
I vow, that all the red-skin race 

Must for the last embark! 

Give me the rifle, lad. 

My pack of faithful hounds! 

They have now made the last of raid 
On Texas' hunting grounds 



29 



BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO. 




(APRIL 21, 1836.) 

INSCRIBED TO THE DAUGHTERS OF THE REPUBLIC. 



Y song ring wide, my song ring loud 

Of San Jacinto Battle! 
And let the air vibrate and shout 

The cannons' roaring metal. 
We're keeping dear this gallant day 
And cheering proud hurrah! 

And generations will yet heed 
Sam Houston's ardent valor, 

And sing of Texans' daring deeds 
And Santa Anna's failure! 

We're keeping dear this gallant day 

And cheering proud hurrah! 

"At Goliad and the Alamo !" 
Was Texans" cry of battle. 

They struck this day a deadly blow 
Their cause for once to settle. 

We're keeping dear this gallant day 

And cheering proud hurrah! 

The Lone Star flag unfurls now. 

And nothing will it sever! 
It waves over Texas brow 

In freedom's cause forever! 
We're keeping dear this gallant day 
And cheering proud hurrah! 

My song ring wide, my song ring loud, 

Of San Jacinto battle! 
And let the air vibrate and shout 

The cannons' roaring metal! 
We're keeping dear this gallant day 
And cheering proud hurrah! 



31 




The iVaterf alls lit Segiiin. 




The Comal Dam al New BraunfeU. 




THE WATERFALL AT SEGUIN. 

HERE the Guad'lupe swiftly rushes 

Througfh the rugfg'ed crafjs in rills. 
Here the virgin nature blushes 

In daint' colors of the hills 
Ceaseless, rippling, creeping, sweeping, 

Toss the waters evermore — 
Always sipping, peeping, leaping 

Upon sandy, silv'ery shore! 

At Seguin, the woodland city. 

Rock on rock is heaped intact. 
And it sings it's joyful ditty. 

Here the little cateract 
Gleaming, splashing, onward dashing, 

Without stop and without rest — 
Beaming, lashing,. downward crashing 

Over bank of flow'ry crest! 

And I gaze here at the wonders 

Wrought by ages long before; 
And my heart is growing fonder, 

When it hears the waters roar! 
Longing, firing and admiring,^ 

Plows the soul in melodies, 
Love inspiring and desiring — 

Here I walch the woodland scenes 



33 




THE OLD TIME DARKEY. 

IVE me the old-time darkey a}j;ain, 

With true Ethiopian blood in his vein; 

With ivory teeth and jet black skin. 

With his good-hearted mind and hum'rous grin! 

With tender affections he would awake 
To dare and to do for his master's sake; 
At evening his ardent minstrel-bards 
Would move to tears the quiv'ring chords! 

No cares nor troubles had he then, 

No politics to serve his clan, 

With jokes and laughter he would thrive, 

"The constant sunshine" of his life! 

1 see the mammies serve the tea, 

And caress little tots with glee; 

And watch them true in motherly care 

And guide them right with patience and bear. 

Give me the old-time darkey again. 

With true Ethiopian blood in his vein; 

With ivory teeth and jet black skin, 

With his good-hearted mind and hum'rous grin! 



35 




THE LEGEND OF MOUNT BONNELL. 

(NEAR AUSTIN.) 

HERE \vas a maid, as white as snow, 
Her name was Golden Nell; 
And handsome was her ardent beau, 
Who loved her — ah, so well! 

They wedded on the mountain peak. 

The mountain peak of ^old! 
The Indians blood)' vengeance wreaked 

With bows and arrows bold! 

They hunted up this loving pair 

In caverns, dells and dales; 
This pair so young and ah! so fair — 

They set upon their trails. 

And where the mountain overleaps 

Col'rado's rushing swell — 
There, from the crags so sharp and steep, 

Alas! leaped beau and Nell! 

The moon bedecked her face with clouds; 

The nightwind sighed weird; 
The mountains wrapp'd in misty shroud. 

And doleful shrieks were heard! 

The old man or. his steed so swift 
Arrived to mourn their fate! 

He saw this lovely couple drift 
From Mount Beau — Nell of late! 




THE RACE OF MONTEZUMA. 

ON Rodrigo, Montezuma, — 
Noble sires of this race! 
Leu;'end sing's the senorita 
To her babe adorned in lace. 

And the eyelids' melting power 

Covers sparks of fiery hue! 
Praying, that their mission tower 

Would once more their might renew! — 

Would once more recall to glory 

Rio Bravo's valiant dead. 
And the Buena Vista army 

Would once more their life-blood shed! 

That the land of Aztec valor 

Would again resound their voice! 

Kneeling, holds she cross of Savior, 
While the babe in slumber lies. 

Senorita, senorita! 

Thou shalt mourn thy noble dead — 
Raguena and Arista — 

Braver men no country had! 

Hark! this flag is waving over 
All the free and all the brave! 

With its star of freedom's cover 
It guards dear the soldiers' grave! 



37 



}\ 



•^ 



THE COWBOY. 

Rude and awkward chap is he, 
With heart as clear as flint; 
With eyes as bright as the prairie, 
On deeds of daring bent. 

The mustang is a part of him, 
The roping lends him charm; 

He rings his pistol with a whim 
And trusts his steed and arm. 

The mountain lion is his sport, 
His quarter the frontier; 

He is the Texas-born lord. 
And has no worldly fear. 

On couch of grass he falls asleep. 
His tent the starry sky; 

No cares disturb his slumber deep. 
The wind sings lullaby. 

A real gentleman is he. 
This rusty soul, so bold; 

To ladies he will ever be 
A cavalier of old. 



39 




\'irir From r> 



I' III,, Austin. Tliis iiail. H-,ix iifiiKileil III thf i-ilii nl Ausliii hy 
(iiii'cninr K. M. I'fiise nnii irilr. May 'i'K J.S';.5. 




IN PEASE PARK 

HERE is no place with richer verdant crown, 

Than on the crest of trees in this secluded park; 
From times imm'morial they have frowned 
And stayed the hand, which fain would mark. 

The g^rottoes, sylvan caves are still alive 
With hallowed relics of a former age, 

When the Great Spirit would in storm arise, 
Inspiring his forsaken Indian sage! 

And flowers dainty, which the Indian squaw 
Would heap in love upon her paramour, 

They bloom, still fragrant, as they ever saw— 
And healing herbs — they still endure! 

The limpid waters ripple as of old, 
Uncounted, fearless and unhemmed; 

The busy world digs after idle gold — 
But here the busy tide is stemmed! 



41 



.1.1 BkH '.'i,. I 



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4 



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'"Y-^ 



THE LOG CABIN. 

^^^^ '^AR in the West, remote from train and noise. 

A cabin, sheltered by the cedar trees, 




S?^ Like babe in mother-arm it lies; 

golden sunrise ev'ry morn it sees! 

The mustang vines with arms of hundred feet 
Are waving in Uie gulf's soft wind — 

And climbing roses wild my cabin greet; 
The brook is sparkling over sand and flint. 

The children playing 'round the cozy hut. 

The gentle sheep are grazing to and fro. 
And all seem happy with their happy lot, 

And wished it be forever, ever so. 

Alas! I hear the busy, busy mill — 

My cedar trees are ruthless sawed to dust; 

And where my cabin crowned the purple hill. 

There stands the fact'ry's smokestack in disgust. 



43 



THE SPIRIT OFIOUR RACE. 




'—'-a^Cf--^^^ 



ARK! What rises from the grave, 
Bedecked with Southern soil, 
Where patriots their dwelling have 

And resting from turmoil? 
It is the spirit of the race — 
The race which rules supreme! 

Hark! What seraph does ascend 
From battle's gory ground; 

And beckons with his telling hands 
To listen so profound? 

It is the spirit of the race — 

The race which rules supreme! 

Hark! What comes from the sea, 
What marks the foaming tide? 

The mighty spirit of the free. 
Which on the sea does ride — 

It is the spirit of the race — 

The race which rules supreme! 

Hark! What soundes from the dome 
Unfalter'd, loud and clear? 

In ceaselebs, calling, warning tone 
It ringes to your ear. 

It is the spirit of the race — 

The race which rules supreme! 

And other thousand years may roll 

In Time's eternal stream, 
And mountains may to atoms fall; 

This race will rule supreme! 
Untainted, will survive their blood; 
'Tis written by the hand of God! 



44 




THE DISASTER OF GALVESTON. 

(SEPTEMBER 8, 1900.) 

ARKJs the night, but darker still 

The waves roll from the sea. 
"Be calm, my l)oy, the waters will 

Not reach the upper lea." 
"I see their mermaids' fine array. 
They beckon me here not to stay." 

The wind, the storm, the hurricane 
Are sweeping waters to the isle. 

"Be calm, my boy, do not complain — 
We are from danger- mark a mile." 

"The mermaids sing their nightly song. 

They coax me, father, to go 'long." 

An angry, boiling, foaming mass 

Is rising over trees and hut. 
"Be calm, my boy, it soon will pass; 

Trust to thy God and fear thee not." 
And higher rolls the furious tide: 
"My father, the mermaid is my bride." 

A toss, a blow, a lightning flash — 
The building trembles like a leaf. 

"Be calm, my boy, I hear the crash; 
Come, let us flee to yonder reef!" 

A bellowing wave shoots mountain high: 

"Dear father, the mermaids are so nigh." 

A roaring thunder plays the tune, 

The mermaids dancing fierce and wild; 

And in their laps embedded soon 
There lay the father and the child; 

And thousands lives were swept away, 

From Galveston that fateful day. 

In mourning stood the world with awe! 

And those who slept, they could not sleep; 
A charnel-house the city was. 

And those vi'ho wept, they could not weep; 
Each one had lost some dear, dear friend — 
Each felt the blow of the ocean fiend! 



46 



THE CITY OF GALVESTON. 

FIRST VILLAGE BUILT ON GALVESTON ISLAND BY LAFITTE, 1817. 



LBANDER City, true and tried! 

Where pirates once their pastime plied! 



M Where Indians in their canoes bore 



The wandering tribe from shore to shore 
And evermore the tossing brine 
Would carry battle to thy spine. 




Thou art the pearl of the sea, 
Fished up by Nature's mastery! 
The elements in jealous pride 
Would feint the precious jewel to hide. 

But thou hast brighter, stronger grown: 
A Phoenix from the ashes sown! 

Thy silv'ry line of merchants' fleet. 
Thy steamers, foreign countries greet! 
And linked to Texas heart and lands, 
Thy greatness with her strength expands! 
Oleander City, true and tried. 
In thy success the State abides! 



47 




BEN MILAM'S GRAVE. 

USH softly, clouds — blow gently, winds 
Upon this holy ground. 
Ye willow trees, your branches bend 
And shade this hero's mound. 

Step gently boys, and do not stir — 

You are in death's domain. 
Ah, braver hearts there never were, 

Than that of truthful Ben! 

Here is his ashes' resting-place. 

But Milam is not dead; 
I see his noble, valiant face, 

And hear the charge he made. 

"Up. boys, for San Antonio! 

For Texas liberty!" 
He was the first to meet the foe, 

The first to pay his fee. 

Rush softly, clouds — blow gently, winds; 

The hero's grave keep green; 
Ye willow trees, your branches bend 

Upon a spot so sheen. 



49 




He.uu'doil tlunhcr Ni>. 2, Beaumont. Height of nil How 2l2.7/t. Capacilu ',ii,(liiil 
batrels per day. nrmight in May 25, imu. 




BEAUMONT. 

HERE from Spindletop the oil is rushing, 
And other g-ushers many miles are gushing — 

There is Beaumont! 
The forces have there slept for ages, 
Till our twentieth century sages 

Have opened up the oil-field's font. 

Here, where the oil magnates are battling; 
Here, where the mammon's filth is rattlintr: 
You had the oil for generations stored, 
Till skillful men in earth's deep bosom bored. 
O, God! thy wisdom seems so near; 
But meat and oil are still so dear! 



51 




■■KM Eiiemtf." tyum CuiiyriulUai I'ltiituurapli fjj/ F. A. Hineliart. 




THE RED MAN'S PEACE MESSAGE. 

INSCRIBED TO THE ORDER OF RED MEN. 

ONCEALED in shadow of the forest's orlades, 
The bloody tomahawk lies buried deep; 
The roomy wigwams hush in cooling shade. 
The squaws and papoose soothingly to sleep. 

The warriors have their council-fires lit, 

From eye to eye the signs of friendship glance 

The pipe of peace encircled in their midst, 

From mouth to mouth make curly cloudlets dance. 

Great Spirit, from the valleys and the hills! 

Once more descendes thou to their hunting-ground; 
Once more with loveof freedom every heart thou fill'st. 

Once more the solemn Red Man's oath goes 'round! 

The clouds have vanished now tor evermore! 

The path is strewn with heavenly light of gold. 
And all the cares my pali;-faced brother bore. 

My noble father gathered in his shining fold! 

No war-paint shall bedeck the Indian's brow. 
And friends and mighty brothers we shall i)e, 

Till the great sun has lost his fire-crown: 

The hunt and fields we shall divide with tliee! 



53 



THE TEXAS FARMER. 




'D guess I have not lived in vain, 
Though small ray bank account; 
I broke the soil and drilled the ground 
And planted trees in yonder lane. 

I've banked that sproutly rivulet 
With waters cool and clear; 
And then as drouth was very near, 
I deepen'd wide its bed. 



My lirand-nevv wagons shine with paint, 
My cows and horses slick and fat; 
No better bacon can be had 
For mortals and for saints. 

No better cotton was there seen. 
The corn as tall as I; 
Wherever you may spy 
The meadows are enduring green. 

And there my little cottage lays 
From grapevine close entwined; 
What dear to me, it has enshrined. 
Kissed from the morning rays. 

My riches are in yonder hut — 
My spouse and children true; 
And if the Rothschild's ever knew, 
They'd bargain for my lot. 

But what is all your fame and wealth? 

I (1(1 not care a snap; 

I am an independent chap; 

My capital is health. 

I'd guess I have not lived in vain, 
Though small my bank account; 
And not a happier man is found 
On all the world's domain. 



UB 



18,7. 




MY SOUTHLAND. 

OUTHLAND, O, Southland! my heart is with thee, 
Thou land of the noble, thou land of the free. 
I love thy prairies, thy balmy hills, 
Thy lordly rivers, with steamships and sails. 
There is nothinjf dearer to my mind, 
No truer country 1 can find. 

Southland, O, Southland! my jewel, my life! 
Where the oak-trees and pine-trees thrive, 
Where the stately magnolia's bloom 
Filles the air with sweet perfume; 
With thy golden orange-tree groves — 
Truly, I forever thee love! 

Southland, my Southland! wherever I be, 
I can not forget to think of thee. 
Thou art as bright as the sunniest skies, 
And enchanting as thy maidens' eyes; 
Thy myriad acres of fertile land 
Enrich the world from hand to hand. 

Southland, O, Southland! my hope and my star, 

I dream of thee, whenever so far; 

I hear thy oceans rolling with might; 

I see thee standing by the true and the right — 

Thy generous people will never be slaves. 

Thou land of the free, thou land of the brave! 



55 




TEXAS FOREVER. 



H^RE sounds a voice like thunderbolt 

From Sabine to the Rio Grande; 
From shore of Gulf to Northern hold, 
This voice for Texas greatness stands. 
And undivided shall it be, 
This realm of Texans' liberty! 

What land is nearer to thy heart, 

Where Travis died and Houston fouijht? 
Where Hood's brigade the heroes 'ward? 
What purer idols fill your thoughts 
From early buoyant schoolboy days 
Till eyes grow dim and hair grows gray? 

As long as rises Texas sun 

And wakes to fruitfulness the soil, 
As long as echo, glories won, 

No Texan leaves her rank and file, 
And undivided shall it be, 
This realm of Texans' liberty! 



56 



JUL 11 1903 



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